1:21 AM,
Nov. 30, 2012

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is a former Georgia player and administrative assistant.

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As far back as he can search in his mind, Mike Bobo and Kirby Smart have been friends. Their early days found them on opposing sidelines, years before they were teammates at Georgia in the late 1990s.

On Saturday, they'll be on opposing sidelines again, with Bobo serving as the offensive coordinator of third-ranked Georgia and Smart as defensive coordinator of second-ranked Alabama, opponents in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

"We've tended to compete at everything we've ever done, from cards to golf to who can get to the store the fastest," Bobo said. "It never ends pretty. ...